Game apparatus



June 3 1924.

C. V. BOWERS GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2', '1 922 PM W. QME Nq i m M S m f \l 1 f ATTORNEY.

Patented June 3, 19 24..

UNITED STATES 1,495,983 PATENT, OFFICE.

CLARENCE v. BOWERS, or EAST ALLEN'rowN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME I APPARATUS.

Application filed Sieptember 2, 1922. Serial No. 585,998.

thereon and further', one that'will afforda' large amount of amusement when operated.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a game apparatuswhich is extremely simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, conveniently operated, amusing when used, readily set up and inexpensive to manufac'ture.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to, which come within the and extends to the lower end of the playing scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding part throughout the several views-:

Figure 1 is'a top plan view of a game apparatus in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View,

on line 22, Figure 2,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1. Referring to the drawings in detail, l denotes the body portion of the apparatus, which consists of a' substantially rectangular board having a curved upper edge 2. The

board 1 provides a playing surface 3, and

which is cut away to provide near the forward end of the playing surface 3, wltha cavity 4, having the forward part of its" bottom inclined downwardly as at 5.

Leading from: the cavity, is a serles of runways 6, 7, 8, 9,10 and 11.

The runways 6 and 11 are of less length than the other runways referred to, and the runway 6 terminates in abpocket 12, de

signated as at 13, of a certain value. Therunway 11 terminates 111 a pocket 14, des-' ignated as at 15, of a certain value, and of a greater value than the designation of the pocket 12. Each of the runways 6, 11, areoutwardly curved with respect to the longitudinal axis of theplaying surface 3.

The runway? is of compound curvature and extends to near the lower end ofthe playing surface 3, and terminates in a pocket 16, designated as at 17, as of a certain value. end of the runway 7, is a branch runway 18, which terminates in a pocket 19,'ar-

ranged in alignment with the pocket 16, and designated, as at 20, of a certain value. The runway 8 is of compound curvature, and extends to near the lower end of the playing surface 3, and terminates in-a pocket 21, ar-

ranged in alignment with the pockets 16 and 19, and which is designated as of no value, as at 22. The runway 9 is also curvilinear in contour and which intersects the runways 10, and 8, and'said runway 9, terminates at its lower end in a pocket 23, arranged in alignment with the pockets 16, 19 and 21, and designated as ofa certain value, as indicated at 2 1. Leading from the runway 9,

Leading from near thelower is a branch runway 25, which terminates in surface 3, and further intersects runways 1, 8 and 9, near the upperends of said runways, and further intersects runways 7 and 9, near the lower ends of these'latter runways. The

- runway 10 terminates in' a pocket 27 which is designated as of a certain value, as at 28, and the pocket 27 is arranged in alignment with the pockets 16, 19, 21, 23 and 26.

' The pockets 16, 19, 23, 27, 26 and 21, are positioned in a transverse row, that is to say, in arow extending transversely'with respect to the lower end of the playing surface 3,

and the said pockets are furthermore spaced from each other. 1

Leading from the runway 10, is a branch runway 29, which terminates in a pocket 30, designated as of certain value, as at31, and

the said pocket 30, is positioned between the runways 10 and 7. I Leading from the runway 8, is a branch said pocket 33, is positioned between the runways 7 and 8.

Each of the pockets is circular inrcontour, and each is adaptedto receive. a projectile, in the form of a globular body Two projectiles 35 are shown, but it is obvious that this number can be increased or diminished if desired. The value designations for the pockets are different and those pockets of greater diameter are arranged between the transverse row of pockets and the cavity t.

The lower end of the body portion 1, is formed" with, an upwardly extending transverse; ledge 36, and each: longitudinal edge, for a-portion. of itslength, starting from. the lower end. of the ledge, is; provided with a longitudinally disposed and upwardly ex.- tending ledge 37,.and-the said ledges 36 and- 37 provide means to prevent/the projectiles. 35 from running 05- the playing surface 3,

at the lower end thereof;

The body portion 1, 0f the apparatus, is.

porting the body portion 1, at. an upward inclination, a pair of supporting members 38, only one shown, depend from the body portion near the lower end thereof, and near the upper end of the body portion! 1, a pair. of supporting members: 39, only one shown, depend from. the lower face ofthe. The supporting members.

bodyportion 1.. 39' are of'greater height than the supporting-members; 38', and, each of the supporting members 38, 39, istriangular in contour, with the, apex. adapted to, rest on; a sup.-

port. 40, whereby the. body portion 1, will be sustained at an upwardinclination, Secured, on the playing surface 3, between; the

cavity 4:, and the. forward end of said playingsurface 3-, is a receptacle lhhav-ing an opening-42, 1n the top-thereof,v llO-PlO'VlClGzIfQll the insertion of the projectiles 35. The top.

of the receptacle 4:1, is: formedwith-a depending flange 43, which. overlaps the.- top of the rear wall 44:. of the receptacle 4:1.

The rear: wall 44, provides-an outlet for the receptacle t1. and can. be shifted to: open position for the discharge of the projectilesfroin the receptacle 4&1, so that the. projectiles will enter the cavity 41,, and-from there travel through certain of the runways to the pockets, or from off the runways to the lower part of the playing. surface 3.,

The wall 44, is connected at its-upper end to a shifting rod 45- therefor, the latter is journalled in, the side walls; of the recepe tacle 4t, and further projects outwardly fromv one of the side walls: of; the recepr tacle 41, and is provided with; a crank 46, with which is, connected, the upperarm 47, of the bell. crank lever. The lower arm oii the bell crank lever is. indicated at 48, and;

tension 52, which is-connected', as at 53,-. to i the longitudinal armof an angle-shaped extension 54,. formed on: the. forward end.-

of an operating rod 55,, which is. SliCllably mounted ina pair of guides, 56,, 57 depending from. the lower face. of the. bodyportion 1. The operating rod at its lower end has a handle member 58, and the said. rod. 5.5. is of a. length as to project rearward'ly with respect to, the lower end of the body portion 1..

Mounted on the rod 55, and: interposedbetween a collar 59,. and the. guide 56, is a coiled spring 60,. which returns the rod 55, to normal position, as. the rod 55, has been shifted forwardly, to: open the wall 44, of the receptacle 41, so thatithe projectiles. 35 can be discharged from: the, receptacle 4:1.

When the projectiles 35 are, released from the: receptacle 41, they enter the cavity 1, and; from, there travel through the runways into the pockets, and the count is made by adding the various: values which designate the: pockets.v Insome instances the projectiles will run out of the, runways, asisobvious.

What I claim, is:,

1, A game apparatus: comprising a body:

portion constituting a: playing surface formed at: its; up er endwith a transversely extend-ingcavity andzatw its lower end With-a transversely extending; row of.- spaced pockets. for; the receptionrofa projectile, said surface further: provided; with aforward and the other of the; pockets of said rows; curved branch runways leading from; certain; of the intersectingrunwaysto the intermediate:

poclets-, and. conventional. means on-said sun;

facev to; designate each of: saidpoolrets of.

. different: value.

2. A game apparatus; comprising a body, portion; constituting a. playing surface formed at its upper end with a transversely extending cavity and at its lower; end witha transnersely extending-row of spaced.- peck. ets. for the; reception of aprejectile, said-surface. further provided. with. a forward and an. intermediate: pair; of.v pockets arranged; 80

between said row and cavity for the reception of a projectile, a curved runway leading from each end of the cavity to a pocket of the forward pair, intersecting curved runways leading from said cavity to certain of the pockets of said row, curved branch runways leading from said intersecting runways to the other of the pockets of said rows, curved branch runways leading from certain of the intersecting runways to the intermediate pockets, conventional means on said surface to designate each of said pockets of different value, said forward pair of pockets arranged exteriorly of the intersecting runways, and said intermediate pair of pockets surrounded by said intersecting runways.

3. A game apparatus comprising an apertured body portion having its upper face cut away to provide runways and pockets, said pockets arranged in pairs and in a row, said body portion further cut away to provide near its upper end a transversely extending concavity from which said runways lead to said pockets, said row of pockets positioned at the rear end of said body portion and each of said pair of pockets arranged between said row of pockets and said concavity, a projectile retaining receptacle arranged on said body portion forwardly of said cavity and having a front pivoted wall capable when shifted to open position to release a projectile from the receptacle, a shiftable element arranged exteriorly of one end of said receptacle and connected to said wall, said element depending downwardly through the aperture of said body portion, and a spring controlled operating means arranged below and slidably connected with said body portion and further connected to said element for actuating the latter to open said pivoted wall, and means for supporting said body portion at an inclination to provide for the gravitation of the projectile when released from said receptacle.

4. A game apparatus comprising an apertured body portion having its upper face cut away to provide runways and'pockets, said pockets arranged in pairs and in a row, said body portion further cut away to provide near its upper end a transversely extending concavity from which said runways lead to said pockets, said row of pockets positioned at the rear end of said body portion and each of said pair of pockets arranged between said row of pockets and said concavity, a projectile retaining receptacle arranged on said body portion forwardly of said cavity and having a front pivoted wall capable when shifted to open position to release a projectile from the receptacle, a shiftable element arranged exteriorly of one end of said receptacle and connected to said wall, said element depending downwardly through the aperture of said body portion, a spring controlled operating means arranged below and slidably connected with said body portion and further connected to said element for actuating the latter to open said pivoted wall, and means for supporting said body portion at an inclination to provide for the gravitation of the projectile when released from said receptacle, said receptacle having its top closed and formed with an opening to provide for the entrance of the projectile into the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto;

CLARENCE V. BOWERS. 

